Trudeau government brings its Trans Mountain pitch to Halifax

HALIFAX – Three Liberal ministers brought their defence of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion to Halifax Friday amidst an ongoing interprovincial dispute that left provinces and political parties divided.

“We don’t just make decisions willy-nilly. We really think very hard about the environment and the economy. We listen to people and, you know what, at the end someone’s got to make a decision and stand up for what we believe is right. ”

“You should be super proud of what we’re doing.”

McKenna was speaking as part of a panel alongside Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr, Fisheries and Oceans Minister Dominic LeBlanc and B.C. MP Jonathan Wilkinson from North Vancouver. The ministers were speaking at the same time a few dozen protestor opposed to the pipeline were rallying outside.

Ottawa is embroiled in an ongoing fight with British Columbia over the proposed expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline. The Alberta government and Ottawa back the project. British Columbia has said it is concerned about its environmental impact.

The situation escalated earlier this month after the company behind the project, Texas-based company Kinder Morgan, announced it was suspending all “non-essential spending” on the $7.4 billion project. The company has given Prime Minister Justin Trudeau until May 31 to give a clear signal the project will proceed.

Trudeau and Carr have repeatedly insisted the pipeline will be twinned. The project, they say, is in the natural interest of the country. The Liberals also insist the decision is the federal government’s to make — and theirs to make alone.

The Alberta and Saskatchewan governments have said they will restrict the flow of oil to British Columbia — a move that would trigger a jump in fuel prices.

British Columbia, under Premier John Horgan, disputes Ottawa’s jurisdictional insistence. It has also threatened to sue the Alberta government, arguing the proposed legislation is unconstitutional.

On Friday, Carr said “it’s not comfortable” to watch the provinces have “such a tough conversation in the public view.”

“We’re under no illusions about how controversial these projects are. They divide political parties,” he said pointing to the fact that both Alberta and B.C. have NDP premiers. “Do you think to see eye to eye on this project?”

“Within our party there will be those who think that pipelines are not a great idea,” the Manitoba MP said — before suggesting those people can likely be won over after they hear the project will take oil off of the rail lines and benefit the entire country.

Carr estimated the Canadian economy is currently losing $15 billion a year because Canadian oil is sold at a discounted price.